December 12, 2013
My golden retriever killed my 5 year old yellow lab. Is there a way to break up a dog fight when you are alone or should I let them fight it out?
Full Question:
Ed, I recently tried to break up a dog fight between my 4 year old golden retriever and 5 year old yellow lab (both neutered males). The fight occurred in the middle of our large yard. I was alone but still tried to break up the fight by grabbing the back legs of the dog that was wining and lifting and pulling back. As soon as that dog would let go, the other dog would attack. This went back and forth several times. Each time I was able to get one dog to let go, the other would attack. The fight did not stop until my lab lay dead with a broken neck. I was never injured as I used the proper technique but was alone. My question is, is there a way to break up a fight when you are alone or should it just be left to continue?
Ed's Answer:
I am sorry for your loss. The answer to your question is YES, there is a way to break up a fight when you are alone. It is covered in both the article I wrote titled How to Break Up a Dog Fight Without Getting Hurt.
The short version is you take a dog leash and make a loop by running the snap through the handle. Put that loop around the back end of one of the dogs – so both legs are through the loop and then its tightened it snugs up around the loin of the dog.
Then drag the pile (both dogs that are fighting are a pile) and secure the snap end of the leash around a tree, fence, or put it through a door and slam the door closed on the leash (you may have to run the leash around the inside handle of the door and then slam the door closed. Now the fighting pile is locked on one location.
The go around and grab the back legs of the dog that is not attached to the leash. Pull the fight apart and continue to drag the dog to a location where he cannot get back at the dog that is tied out (I.E. into the garage or another room). I demonstrate this work in the video I produced titled Dealing with Dominant and Aggressive Dogs. Instead of letting two dogs fight to demonstrate the work – I had two young adults that played very, very rough (they created a rolling pile when they played). So I used them to show how to do this work.
I am glad you didn't get bit. Breaking up a dog fight is a dangerous endeavor. Here is a web page of photos that people have sent me over the years of owners who have been injured by their own dogs when they tried to break up a dog fight.
I also have a file of emails like yours of people whose dogs have killed one of their other dogs. It happens far more often than the average person thinks. Most people mistakenly think this only happens to Pit Bulls and Rottweilers, when in fact that's not true. It happens to people with all different kinds of breeds of dogs.
I am starting an online university with my company and will begin posting classes in 2014. One of the courses I want to build will be on how to deal with aggressive dogs.
Regards,
Ed Frawley
The short version is you take a dog leash and make a loop by running the snap through the handle. Put that loop around the back end of one of the dogs – so both legs are through the loop and then its tightened it snugs up around the loin of the dog.
Then drag the pile (both dogs that are fighting are a pile) and secure the snap end of the leash around a tree, fence, or put it through a door and slam the door closed on the leash (you may have to run the leash around the inside handle of the door and then slam the door closed. Now the fighting pile is locked on one location.
The go around and grab the back legs of the dog that is not attached to the leash. Pull the fight apart and continue to drag the dog to a location where he cannot get back at the dog that is tied out (I.E. into the garage or another room). I demonstrate this work in the video I produced titled Dealing with Dominant and Aggressive Dogs. Instead of letting two dogs fight to demonstrate the work – I had two young adults that played very, very rough (they created a rolling pile when they played). So I used them to show how to do this work.
I am glad you didn't get bit. Breaking up a dog fight is a dangerous endeavor. Here is a web page of photos that people have sent me over the years of owners who have been injured by their own dogs when they tried to break up a dog fight.
I also have a file of emails like yours of people whose dogs have killed one of their other dogs. It happens far more often than the average person thinks. Most people mistakenly think this only happens to Pit Bulls and Rottweilers, when in fact that's not true. It happens to people with all different kinds of breeds of dogs.
I am starting an online university with my company and will begin posting classes in 2014. One of the courses I want to build will be on how to deal with aggressive dogs.
Regards,
Ed Frawley
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